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Behind The Lens
Location
I shot this photo at a Mike Matthews Macro Photography Workshop that I took with members of PASFLA (Photographic Arts of South Florida), my local photo club. The workshop was held in a lecture hall with folding tables set up around the perimeter and on each table was a miniature diorama of exotic lizards, frogs, and snakes none of which are native to the USA.Time
The workshop was held in the afternoon, from 1 to 4 pm.Lighting
Because I was shooting with a macro lens and getting especially close to the subject, I was able to use a speedlight at very low power. This allowed for fast recycling and I was ready to pop in a few seconds. I didn't use direct flash, however. I used a Peter Gregg Better Bounce Card to diffuse the light creating a nice softbox effect in the tiny space I was shooting. My only regret was using a two AA-battery flash, instead of a four AA-battery flash which would have lasted longer and recycled even faster!Equipment
This was shot with an Olympus OMD EM-1 with a Zuiko 35mm f3.5 1:1 Macro Lens and an Olympus FL160 flash on a Manfrotto 190B tripod with three-way head.Inspiration
I always like to learn new photographic techniques and wanted to attend a workshop where I could create an iconic shot like this without traveling to Costa Rica or Panama. I was so looking forward to the workshop and it delivered!Editing
This is a Yes and No answer. The shot as it appears in ViewBug had just about zero post-processing. It was imported into Google Picassa cropped and exported. The full series of shots from the workshop which appear on my website (shelzer.photoshelter.com/gallery/Critters-Up-Close/G0000ZsD1uxgAq5s/) and in a photo book I published were post processed in Apple Aperture and then enhanced with Google Nik Plug Ins.In my camera bag
My main body/lens combo is my trusted Olympus OMD EM-1 with an M.Zuiko ED 12-40mm f2.8 PRO Lens. This 24-80mm 35mm equivalent lens is weatherproof (like the body) and is used in most of my photography. Also in the bag is an M.Zuiko ED 7-14mm f2.8 PRO Weatherproof Wide Angle Rectilinear Zoom lens for landscapes and broad vistas. If I am shooting portraits, I carry two lenses: an M. Zuiko Digital 45mm f1.8 fast prime and a Zuiko ED 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 SWD Lens. Also in my bag is an Olympus EPM-1 Pen camera with a 9mm fisheye pancake lens/bodycap. It's great for street shooting and using the little camera's fun built-in art filters. I also carry a table top tripod, a remote cable release, a flash (or two) with triggers, a Sekonic light meter and Xrite color checker passport card.Feedback
Watch the lighting. This was shot at ISO400, at f/18 for lots of depth of field, and at 1/25 second. The flash popped for 1/160 second but because I was stopped down so low the only thing exposed was the flash pop. Make sure you use a diffuser.